Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Morning_Star]

I don't think I've ever met such a big group of immature, bitter people in my life. Although they require "degrees" to teach most of the people here seem to have the educational level of below diplomas.

Seems like most of you are bottom feeders that have no other alternatives and HAD to go.

[michaelp58]

[Morning_Star]

[DC in Suwon]

And your categorization is spot on.

I've found that this board has lowered the expecations so drastically that Korea can only be better than expected. Thanks a-holes.

[madoka]

Most people seem to enjoy Korea. Once they get here, they leave this board. Many (though certainly not all) of the people left are socially, awkward, bitter people filled with impotent rage. They don't have any friends, so they spend all their time here complaining about things.

[soviet_man]

[DC in Suwon]

But then you wouldn't be able to act like jerkoffs to new people! What would you do with yourself?

[Mr. Pink]

Not everyone is cynical in their posting on this board.

However, I think the OP's message is why a lot of longer term expats have stopped posting on this site. I know I had to take a break for 6 months because it was too outrageous.

Just think of it like this: a lot of people who move to a new country have issues. They need to vent. Many of those venters do it on this forum. The others probably vent at their local bar with a buddy or two.

[jackson7]

Actually, it's a natural process of acculturation (sp) that produces many bitter individuals here. Almost all humans placed in a different cultural environment will go through similar stages, though they are not necessarily linear. We start with awe and admiration, move onto a backlash kind of spite and retreat. Then there is some bouncing back and forth between being comfortable in the their new place in a new society, and again retreating to be with people from their native culture. Finally people gain almost complete comfort and can function very successfully in both cultures. This often takes years, however, so we meet a lot of people that only go through the more negative phases. It's natural. Of course people can choose their words regarding their feelings, but the feelings themselves are as hard to beat as the inevitable teenage crush or blues.

[PigeonFart]

I like living in Korea. However, i've never seen so much unprofessionalism in my life. I'm only speaking about hogwons here because i never worked anywhere else in Korea.

By unprofessionalism, i mean;

* bosses not giving health insurance or pension

* lying about numerous things (pay, tax, overtime, vacation)

* not considering a qualified teacher because of his/her race, gender, nationality

* not having the common sense to change the way they treat their foreign staff when there's clearly a problem because 5 of them did a midnight run within a few weeks of each other!!! (i've seen it)

* lying to parents about why the foreign teachers' keep disapearing

* bullying and intimidation

* Korean staff to afraid to challange the employers stupid business decisions. Only listening to the boss in "meetings"....never daring to really discuss problems.

* Korean confuscious culture negatively affecting business decisions (see point above) resulting in a country with the longest work hours in the industrialised world...

"Oh we koreans are so good...we work longer hours than anyone else."

"Yes you do work longer hours than anyone else, that cos you're so ******* inefficient.
The Germans can do the same work as you in half the time."

So some people have a geniue reason to complain. That being said, i like living here!!! I'm not bitter, i'm sweet!

[nomad-ish]

i usually find people who write messages like the OP's are very new to korea, or haven't even boarded a plane yet

just sayin'

[D.D.]

Many of us are just PS teachers with way too much desk time. It's the internet where you can be rude and get away with it so people are.

It is 10 times nicer here than it was last year. When guys like Spliff were around this board was 80% slagging.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[sobriquet]

[bundangbabo]

When I was in the army, my CO used to say to me about the non-coms/lower ranks/enlisted men 'Corporal - I only get worried when they AREN'T complaining'

Because someone has a good whinge from time to time - it soesn't mean they are unhappy or peed off - its human nature - get over it!